Highland labour crisis looms as fewer migrant workers seek jobs
North firms struggle to fill vacancies as East Europeans return home to improved opportunities
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The number of migrant workers seeking jobs in the north is falling off dramatically, creating a looming labour crisis for important sectors of the Highland economy, according to recruitment agencies.
Last year 2,020 people from Eastern European countries registered for National Insurance in the Highlands.
The equivalent figures for this year are not yet available but the new Home Office Workers Registration Scheme shows 1,485 people from those countries registered here this year.
One Inverness agency specialising in placing agricultural workers has experienced a 60% drop in numbers from Eastern Europe looking for work in May, compared with the average for the first four months of this year.
Hals personnel manager Ros Watson said: “This June, 57% of our workforce is from Eastern Europe. Last June, the figure was 74%. We have managed to make up the numbers with Scottish workers.”
Another agency said, where there were formerly five candidates for every job in catering and hospitality, there are now five jobs for every candidate.
The situation has been created by the falling value of the pound against Eastern European currencies and improving employment prospects and wages in those countries.
The cost of living in the Highlands – particularly travel and accommodation – is also cited as deterring migrants still seeking work in Scotland. They are staying in the central belt, to take advantage of cheaper rents and cheap flights home.
The crisis is compounded by a steep rise in numbers of migrants now returning to their home countries to take advantage of improved conditions there – but also due to homesickness and depression over less sunshine here.
Mark Sutherland Fisher, who runs Czech Match Ltd, of North Cadboll, Tain, says the hospitality and catering industry are among the hardest hit.
He said: “In Warsaw recently I could not find a single Polish waiter wanting to come here. Last year there were five candidates for every job. This year there are five jobs for every candidate.
“It recently took us seven weeks to find a kitchen assistant for a job in the Loch Ness area. Four central European candidates turned the job down because it was too remote.
“There is a massive shortage of chefs and experienced waiting staff. It’s the same for agricultural workers and people working in retail. It’s just not attractive for them to come here.”
Joanna Napiorkowska, 29, from Lodz, Poland, in Inverness since 2006, plans to go home next year.
She has a Masters degree in Polish, and works as a shop assistant and teacher of Polish in the Saturday Polish Children’s Club in Inverness.
She said: “There are more opportunities at home now. I would say 40% of the migrants I know here have already returned home.
“People are homesick. They also get depressed because of the lack of sun. Where we used to get six zlotys to the pound, we now get four.”
Zoe Wishart, of Blue Arrow Recruitment Agency, in Inverness, said: “The situation is serious. There are very slim pickings in terms of candidates. Employers have to move fast to get anyone.”
June Crombie of Global Highland Recruitment, in Inverness, said: “We have seen a drop of 40% in people coming in looking for work in the past four or five months.
“It’s to do with the cost of living here. Rented accommodation costs at least £500 a month.”
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